Waldheim; Failure of Geneva Talks Will Have Adverse Affect on Mideast

Secretary General Kurt Waldheim warned today that the Geneva peace conference would fall unless it is well prepared and well organized in advance and that failure would lead to a deteriorated situation in the Middle East and a worsening of “the political climate” in that area.

Addressing a press conference here, Waldheim said that to his knowledge, no decision has been taken yet on reconvening the Geneva conference. He said, however, that he is in contact with the two co-chairmen–the United States and the Soviet Union–and with the parties.

He expressed the view that at present all parties to the Middle East conflict are interested “in finding a negotiated settlement.” Describing the Middle East situation as “very serious,” he also suggested that the step-by-step approach to a solution and the Geneva conference could be complimentary processes toward reaching a solution.

Waldheim said that time is needed to achieve progress in the Mideast and observed that the extension of the mandate of United Nations forces there would give the peace-making process another chance to progress. He said he expected that the Security Council, meeting this afternoon, would extend the mandate of the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) in Sinai which expires April 24.

CLARIFICATION

A story on page 3 of the April 11 issue of the Bulletin stated that more than 2,250 million Americans visited Israel since the State was founded in May 1948. The correct number should have been 2,250,000. In addition, Israel Zuriel, Commissioner for Tourism, North America, the senior representative of the Israel Ministry of Tourism in the U.S., said the figure cited was released by the Israel Central Department of Statistics. Zuriel noted that the 2,250,000 figure includes persons who visited Israel more than once. “If the same person comes to Israel two or three or any number of times, and spends money there, each visit is considered as one more tourist.”